Robbers in drag get euro80M in Paris jewelry theft

[December 05, 2008]  PARIS (AP) -- Police say armed robbers -- some dressed in drag -- made off with euro80 million ($100 million) in loot from a lightning-fast jewelry store robbery in central Paris.

A police official says the three or four thieves swiped rings, necklaces and luxury watches from display cases at the Harry Winston store near the Champs-Elysees.

The official said Friday at least two of the bandits were men dressed as women, at times spoke a foreign language and knew employees' names. The official was not authorized to be publicly named according to agency policy.

A spokeswoman for the U.S.-based chain could not be reached for comment about Thursday's holdup.

Police said it was among France's biggest-ever jewelry thefts.

[Associated Press; By JEAN-PIERRE VERGES]

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